wfn.org | ELCA Assembly Supports 'Stand with Africa,' World Hunger

[News News <NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

August 13, 2001

ELCA ASSEMBLY SUPPORTS 'STAND WITH AFRICA,' WORLD HUNGER
01-CWA58-MR

     INDIANAPOLIS (ELCA)  -- With a 99.1 percent of the total vote,
voting members of the 2001 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), resolved to support "Stand With
Africa," a three-year Lutheran campaign that focuses on issues
significant to Africa, including HIV/AIDS, economic justice, food
security, and peace and reconciliation. The assembly also received a
report about the ELCA World Hunger Appeal and Program.
     The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the
ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 8-14 at the Indiana Convention Center.  There
are nearly 2,500 people participating, including 1,039 ELCA voting
members.  The theme for the biennial assembly is "Making Christ Known:
Sharing Faith in a New Century."
     "Stand With Africa" is coordinated by the ELCA World Hunger
Program, the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), and Lutheran World
Relief, the overseas relief and development organization of the ELCA and
LCMS.
     "We stand with Africa and we pray for Africa.  It is a campaign of
hope and begins by walking together with African people," said Belletech
Deressa, director for development, ELCA Division for Global Mission.
"Stand With Africa provides additional support to African churches and
communities in their struggle to overcome the AIDS epidemic," she said.
     Deressa told the assembly, "Poverty can lead to HIV/AIDS and
HIV/AIDS can lead to poverty." She added that 36.1 million children and
adults around the world are affected by HIV/AIDS.  From that total, 13.2
million are children and adults affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa alone.
     The assembly moved to call on individuals, congregations, the
church's 65 synods, the churchwide organization and related agencies and
institutions to "be strong and active partners in the emerging 'Stand
With Africa: A Campaign of Hope.'"  It also moved to learn more about
Africa; advocate for justice with special emphasis on the HIV/AIDS
emergency in Africa; and, support the ELCA World Hunger Appeal and
Program within context of the appeal.
     "Hunger is simple -- not having enough of the right foods to eat,"
said Lita Brusick Johnson, director, World Hunger Appeal, ELCA Division
for Congregational Ministries.
     "But, the reasons why 800 million people are chronically
malnourished are complex and so are the solutions," she said.
     In her report about the ELCA World Hunger Appeal, Johnson told the
assembly, "Our church's World Hunger Appeal responds through relief,
emergency assistance in times of crisis; development, long-term help in
breaking the cycle of poverty that causes hunger; education that helps
us learn hunger's causes and cures; and, advocacy that calls on
government to do its part to end widespread hunger in this century."
     The ELCA World Hunger Appeal -- an annual appeal for funds from
the 5.15 million-member ELCA -- collected more than $15.86 million in
2000, surpassing the expected income goal of $14 million.
     A goal of the appeal is to raise $25 million a year by 2005,
Johnson said.
-- -- --
     Information about assembly actions is at
http://www.elca.org/assembly/01 on the ELCA's Web site.  Recorded
updates during the assembly are available by calling 773/380-2477.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html